Miklós Ybl constructed this ornate masterpiece in 1884. The pearl of Pest's Andrássy út features the marble Royal Stairway, and frescoes by Bertalan Székely. The Hungarian State Opera House offers great value ballet and opera performances to cultured Budapesters.

Among the treasures in the UNESCO World Heritage site that covers Budapest, the Danube's banks, the Buda Castle Quarter and Andrássy Avenue is this impressive 19th-century neo-renaissance building. Its stunning Royal Stairway leads into one of the most elegant interiors in Europe. The Hungarian State Opera and Hungarian State Ballet share the stage.

Whether there to catch a performance or just for a guided tour, visitors can enjoy glitter, grandeur and grand frescoes galore by Károly Lotz. This imperial luxury is not suprising when you learn that Emperor Franz Josef funded most of the construction.

Once inside, walk around the grand marble stairways and find the first-floor museum, which is normally open during performance intervals. The exhibition of posters, scores, manuscripts and costumes gives you an idea of the history of the building.